Hire an older person to access up to $10,000 from govt

BUSINESSES have been reminded they can access up to $10,000 under the Federal Government's Restart program if they hire an eligible 50-plus jobseeker and retain that person for two years.

Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said under the Restart program, eligible employers could receive up to $10,000 when they employed a mature-age jobseeker who had been unemployed and on income support payments for six months.

"This includes payments such as the age or disability support pensions," he said.

"The Restart program is an important step towards helping and encouraging businesses to take on new mature-aged employees, who often face barriers to their re-entry into the workforce.

"Australia has an aging population and it is important that we do all we can to make the workforce more inclusive for mature-age workers."

Mr Truss said nationally, the top industries hiring people under Restart were accommodation and food services, manufacturing, construction and retail.